Sophie has nightmares about what she saw, including Alden’s memory of Quinlin performing Prentice’s memory break. It haunts her just like she believes it must haunt Alden. She wakes with a start, and Fitz arrives to deliver more medicine from Elwin. In addition, he orders Sophie to wear a second nexus until the cause of her fading is determined.

Later, Grady is angry that he allowed her to go with Alden, but Edaline reminds him that it was an assignment from the Council. Sophie privately wonders if Jolie’s death could have had something to do with the Black Swan. Grady begs her to be careful. That night, Sophie records everything she saw in her memory log. Using her spyball, she checks on her family and feels happy to see them thriving but also feels hurt, lonely, and afraid. Silveny’s voice fills her mind with the words “calm” and “friend,” and Sophie slips into her first dreamless sleep in a long time.

Sophie is annoyed that she’ll still be required to perform the mascot dance in Foxfire’s Opening Ceremonies. Sandor places a tracking device inside her mastodon costume. The 12 Councillors, each “flanked by two bodyguards” (187), open the ceremonies.